On 12 September 2009, St. Martin's students performed at the Community Autumn Fair in All Saints Church, West Dulwich. They played a combination of instruments including the piano and French horn receiving many compliments from the audience for their fantastic playing.

As I am sure you will all agree, music is an essential and vibrant part of the culture at St Martin’s. There are many exciting and innovative music making opportunities for students here to get involved in which provide stimulus and challenge for all participants, whatever their previous musical background.

Music is essential for building confidence and developing an understanding of the world around us and the added St Martin’s factors are fun and fulfilment. To quote one of our Year 11 guitarists: “Music always lifts my mood. It illustrates me as a person.”

Music is also an integral part of our worship at St Martin’s and is part of weekly assemblies and services throughout the year.

Music is a vital element of the performing and expressive arts at St Martin’s which offers students the chance to shine in the public arena – to be given affirmation for their unique gifts and talents. Close collaboration with the Drama Department ensures that there is a musical dimension to every school production and the Department also organises well-attended public concerts throughout the year.

A fully staffed Music Department ensures that music continues to open gateways to creativity and performance for St Martin’s students. The Department comprises of a full time teacher who is also a practising musician, a full time specialist teaching assistant, who is also a performer and twelve part time instrumental tutors. The aim of every member of the Music Department is to engage students in genuine, creative music-making. We focus on teaching students the necessary skills and concepts to make music with confidence and enthusiasm and to provide a broad range of opportunities for them to do so.

The Music Centre is housed in a separate block from the rest of the school, near the new build Performing Arts block. The Centre provides a classroom equipped with Yamaha keyboards, classroom percussion instruments, six PCs (running cubase and Audacity), four practice rooms and recording facilities.

Individual lessons on a wide variety of instruments from piano to saxophone are also available. We have a team of twelve professional musicians who come into the department to work with our students on a one-to-one basis. Fees for these lessons are generously subsidised and payable in advance. The lessons, which are in high demand, take place on a rotational basis throughout the school day.

Music is taught to all pupils for 50 minutes a week in Key Stage 3 and is available as an option for GCSE. Lessons are based on performing and composing and all academic learning is given a practical, music-making context. Students learn singing, keyboard and tuned percussion skills. There are also opportunities available to use ICT to create individual compositions. Students are able to develop their musical skills and understanding through exploring a broad range of culturally diverse styles, genres and traditions.

A unique feature of the department is our partnership with the Lambeth CLC. There are many opportunities for all our students to work with talented musicians through creative composition projects and concerts. Students were recently involved in a film composition project at the British Film Institute. The school has a developing extra-curricular programme in which there are wind, brass, string and guitar groups as well as a keyboard club. There are various gospel choirs as well as a smaller choir that concentrates on other choral music. All of these groups rehearse regularly at lunchtimes or after school and take their public performances very seriously.

Miss Hickson
Music Teacher